Facts
- What is a desiccant and what does it do?
- What size desiccant do I need?
- What are the three major types of desiccants?
- What sizes are available?
- How are desiccants best used?
- How long will the desiccant last?
- My cat, dog, child, wife, husband or myself just ate the desiccant, should I be worried?
- If it's not harmful why do you print “Do not eat”
on the package?
- What does a “Unit” refer to?
- How are Desiccare's desiccants packaged?
- What are Humidity Indicating Cards (HIC Cards)?
- What are Oxygen Absorbers?
- Who are our customers?
Q: What is a desiccant and what does it do?
A:A desiccant is a drying agent. It adsorbs and holds
particles of water to itself.
Q: What size desiccant do I need?
A: There are many factors that are used to determine the
amount of desiccant to be used. Package size, packaged
material
properties, barrier material are the main factors to
consider.
To
size the desiccant contact us by phone.or
contact us by e-mail. We will ask a series of questions to determine the
best size for your application.
Q: What are the three major types of desiccants?
A:
1) Montmorillonite Clay-
A calcium aluminum
silicate type of hydrous clay which is ground, processed and
bagged. It is a naturally occurring non-hazardous substance.
Clay,the least expensive of all desiccants, is used in most
industrial applications
requiring humidity control. |
2) Silica Gel-
A form of silica manufactured
from sodium silicate and sulfuric acid. Like Clay, Silica Gel is
non-hazardous and
is capable of adsorbing 40% of its weight in
water vapor
at 100% humidity. Silica Gel has a porous molecular
structure that closely resembles a sponge, and has the highest
capacity of any commercial desiccant for
moisture adsorption. |
3) Molecular Sieve-
A manufactured crystalline
version of Zeolite containing a network of uniform pores and
empty cavities. Molecular sieve is derived from sodium, potassium
or calcium alumina silicate. It is a non-hazardous material.
Molecular sieve is the desiccant of choice for the most demanding
and unique applications. Molecular sieve is the most aggressive
and expensive of the primary desiccants. |
*Carbon-Although
not a desiccant, Carbon is often used alone
or in blends in packaging
applications where odor is an issue
(i.e. vitamin packaging).
Q: What sizes are available?
A: All three major types of desiccants are available in
Pillow Pak from 0.25 gram to 14 gram and Unit Pak
from1/6 unit to 80 unit (approx. 5.8 lbs.). Silica
Gel and Clay
are also available in bulk bags, as well as custom
blends
of two or more desiccants.
Q: How are desiccants best used?
A: To be used most effectively, desiccants should be used
within a
closed/sealed moisture barrier or a rigid/sealed
container. Humidity
indicating cards are generally placed
inside the container to show
the humidity level and indicate
when the desiccant needs to be
replaced.
Q: How will the desiccant
last?
A: It depends.
Packaging and environment dramatically affect the lifetime of the
desiccant. In a tightly sealed environment desiccants can last for
years.
Q: My cat, dog, child, wife, husband or
myself just ate the desiccant, should I be worried?
A: No. The
desiccants are non-toxic and you should not
have any ill effects. As
always if you are having symptoms
seek medical attention.
Q: If it's not harmful why do
you print “Do not eat” on
the package
A: Because it's not food.
Q: What does a “Unit” refer to?
A: A "Unit" is the quantity of desiccant required to fill the
Military specifications (Mil-D-3464) for desiccant products.
Under
this specification, a "Unit" is the quantity of desiccant
which will adsorb 3.00 grams of water vapor at 20% relative humidity
or 6.00 grams of water vapor at 40% relative humidity. More
precisely, a "Unit" of Clay is typically 33 grams, and a
"Unit" of Silica gel and Molecular sieve is typically 28
grams.
Q: How are Desiccare's desiccants packaged?
A: Dessicare packages desiccants in Tyvek®(heat
sealed),
Kraft paper (heat sealed), and Sewn Bags (non-woven
rayon/Polyester blend).
Q: What are Humidity Indicating Cards (HIC Cards)?
A: HIC cards are designed to measure the relative humidity
within an
environment. The humidity level is indicated by a color change of the
dots from blue (dry) to pink (wet). The current
humidity level is read
at the lavender (between blue and pink)
color dot.
HIC cards come in a variety of styles.
Q: What are Oxygen absorbers?
A: Oxygen absorbers remove oxygen from the head space.
The absorbers are
used to protect food and pharmaceutical
products that are sensitive
to oxygen.
Q: Who are our customers?
A: Electronic Parts, Computers, Pharmaceutical and Vitamin Packaging,
Metal Parts, Food Packaging, Aerospace, Pet Foods, Leather Products,
Metal Powders, Powdered or Beaded Glass, & Bulk Powdered
Chemicals.
Please call our customer service department
for information or Contact Us Via Email ... |
